I understand there are many possible factors that go into depression and mental illness. I am not trying to debate what came first the chicken or the egg or cause and effect. The issues are very complex.
I do believe that is some percentage of cases of depression there are very strong genetic and biological factors that people are born with. I think with schizophrenia and bi polar I it is more cut and dry for brain structural and functional abnormalities and genetics.
Whatever the causes the best course of treatment is as varied as the possible causes. Biology doesn't mean a med is necessarily the best treatment.
This thread is merely to point out the evidence as it exists. Mainly focused on depression as that is what I have. If you like to read this stuff and read it all you will be very enlightened.
The most compelling theory and evidence to me is structural, functional, synaptogenic, receptor, and communication between the limbic system and pre frontal cortex. Neuron death and shrinkage in the hippocampus. Things messed up in the HPA axis. Cell death in pre frontal cortex. Amagdyla, hypothalamus, thalamus, pituitary, andrenals, etc. Basically a lot going wrong between the limbic system and the pre frontal cortex.
What is very interesting is that it has been shown that antidepressants cause neurogenesis in the hippocampus. Promotion of neurotrophic growth factors, cell proliferation, cell migration and maturity, and differentiation into neurons and glial cells. Synaptogenesis and signaling in the hippocampus and pre frontal cortex.
Knock yourself out if you are so inclined.
Biology of Depression/ Mental Illness
Genetics
JAMA Network | JAMA Psychiatry | A Hospital-Based Twin Register of the Heritability of DSM-IV Unipolar Depression
Stem Cells Reveal How Illness-Linked Genetic Variation Affects Neurons - 08/18/2014
Common Genetic Variation Big Risk Factor for Alcoholism, Mental Illness - Addiction Treatment | Elements | Drug Rehab Treatment Centers
5 Major Mental Illnesses Traced to Same Genetic Variations | Psych Central News
http://www.journalofpsychiatricresea.../abstract?cc=y
NIMH · New Data Reveal Extent of Genetic Overlap Between Major Mental Disorders
Schizophrenia.com - Schizophrenia Genetics and Heredity
GenRED - Major Depression and Genetics - Genetics of Brain Function - Stanford University School of Medicine
Genetic Switch Involved in Depression - NIH Research Matters - National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Depression Research - Psych Central
Genetic link to depression found - Health News - NHS Choices
What causes depression? - Harvard Health Publications
New gene for bipolar disorder discovered -- ScienceDaily
Bipolar Disorder, Genetics, and the Brain :: DNA Learning Center
Schizophrenia and Manic-Depressive Disorder: The Biological Roots of Mental ... - Google Books
Cambridge Journals Online - Psychological Medicine - Abstract - Autism as a strongly genetic disorder: evidence from a British twin study
NIMH · Five Major Mental Disorders Share Genetic Roots
http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/v45...l/ng.2711.html
https://www.nimhgenetics.org/
Genetic Mental Illnesses | DNA and Mental Illness | Psychiatrist in Scottsdale
Mental Illness: The Challenge of Dual Diagnosis
First Blood Test to Diagnose Depression in Adults: Northwestern University News
Clear New Insights into the Genetics of Depression - Scientific American
Massive Study Reveals Schizophrenia's Genetic Roots - Scientific American
Genome Biology | Full text | Hypermethylation in the ZBTB20 gene is associated with major depressive disorder
Translational Psychiatry - How the serotonin transporter 5-HTTLPR polymorphism influences amygdala function: the roles of in vivo serotonin transporter expression and amygdala structure
Polymorphism in serotonin transporter gene associated with suscepti... - PubMed - NCBI
Receptor and transporter imaging studies in schizophrenia, depressi... - PubMed - NCBI
Neuropsychopharmacology - Serotonin 1A Receptors, Serotonin Transporter Binding and Serotonin Transporter mRNA Expression in the Brainstem of Depressed Suicide Victims
Animal models of depression in dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephr... - PubMed - NCBI
Influence of 5-HTR2A genetic polymorphisms on the efficacy of antid... - PubMed - NCBI
Genetics and personalized medicine in antidepressant treatment. - PubMed - NCBI
Genetics may bring out the dark side of antidepressants | The Verge
Sundance Diagnostics
http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/...ll/nn1463.html
http://www.genelogic.com/wp-content/...imbicPaper.pdf
Biology of Depression
Yale Scientific Magazine ? Uncovering the Biology of Depression
The Biology of Depression: How Stress Affects the Brain and the Body - UCTV - University of California Television
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/....2009.10030434
http://www.nyng.org/MP%20cytokine%20review.pdf
What causes depression? - Harvard Health Publications
Biology of Depression - Genetics and Imaging - Depression: Major Depression & Unipolar Varieties
http://www.wfsbp.org/fileadmin/user_...Depression.pdf
GenRED - Major Depression and Genetics - Genetics of Brain Function - Stanford University School of Medicine
Unkind Cytokines: A Journey from the Mind to Brain to Mind The Biological Basis of Depression -
Blood test accurately distinguishes depressed patients from healthy controls - Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
These Are Revolutionary Times for the Biology of Psychology | Psychology Today
http://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs-wm/22664.pdf
CNS Spectrums: Novel Therapeutics for Depression: L-methylfolate as a Trimonoamine Modulator and Antidepressant-Augmenting Agent
L-Methylfolate: A Promising Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression? | Psych Congress Network
Genetic Testing in Clinical Practice: What Psychiatrists Need to Know | Psych Congress Network
The Role and Postulated Biochemical Mechanism of L-Methylfolate Augmentation in Major Depression: A Case-Report | Psychiatric Annals
MTHFR Genotyping Laboratory Genetic Test | Seeking Health
Mice Study Suggests Lack of Serotonin Not Behind Depression | Psych Central News
Neuropsychopharmacology - Ketamine: Promising Path or False Prophecy in the Development of Novel Therapeutics for Mood Disorders[quest]
Neuroimaging of child abuse: a critical review
Immune Suppression and Immune Activation in Depression
Influence of 5-HTR2A genetic polymorphisms on the efficacy of antid... - PubMed - NCBI
Genetics and personalized medicine in antidepressant treatment. - PubMed - NCBI
Genetics may bring out the dark side of antidepressants | The Verge
Sundance Diagnostics
Molecular Psychiatry - Approaching the shared biology of obesity and depression: the stress axis as the locus of gene-environment interactions
http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/418726
http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.o.../1633/20130138
http://www.wfsbp.org/fileadmin/user_...Depression.pdf
JAMA Network | JAMA Psychiatry | Brain Serotonin1A Receptor Binding Measured by Positron Emission Tomography With [11C]WAY-100635: Effects of Depression and Antidepressant Treatment
Depression Hippocampus Limbic System and Pre Frontal Cortex
Functional anatomical abnormalities in limbic and prefrontal cortic... - PubMed - NCBI
Hippocampal volume loss in depression reflects glial loss -- ScienceDaily
Alterations of neuroplasticity in depression: the hippocampus and beyond
The Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Newsletter
Depression, antidepressants, and the shrinking hippocampus
https://www.google.com/search?q=depr...Q&ved=0CDYQsAQ
PLOS ONE: Changes in Prefrontal-Limbic Function in Major Depression after 15 Months of Long-Term Psychotherapy
Neurogenesis and antidepressants.
Unraveling the Mystery of How Antidepression Drugs Work - Scientific American
Neuropsychopharmacology - Fluoxetine-Induced Cortical Adult Neurogenesis
Fluoxetine-induced cortical adult neurogenesis. - PubMed - NCBI
Antidepressants increase human hippocampal neurogenesis by activating the glucocorticoid receptor
Chronic Antidepressant Treatment Increases Neurogenesis in Adult Rat Hippocampus
The Future of Depression Treatment: The Neurogenesis Theory
Promoting adult hippocampal neurogenesis: a novel strategy for anti... - PubMed - NCBI
The Neural Plasticity Theory of Depression: Assessing the Roles of Adult Neurogenesis and PSA-NCAM within the Hippocampus
Depression
A Review of the Neuropharmacology of Bupropion, a Dual Norepinephrine and Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitor
How antidepressants spur brain growth
http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjourn...581-6/abstract
http://www.cell.com/trends/pharmacol...2814%2900165-5
Depression, antidepressants and new brain cells
Neuropsychopharmacology - Hippocampal Granule Neuron Number and Dentate Gyrus Volume in Antidepressant-Treated and Untreated Major Depression
Implications of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in antidepressant action
http://psychiatryonline.org/doi/full...ajp.160.8.1516
Role of neurotrophic factors in depression
Antidepressants and the immune system
A comparative examination of the anti-inflammatory effects of SSRI ... - PubMed - NCBI
Fluoxetine and citalopram decrease microglial release of glutamate ... - PubMed - NCBI
http://www.rheumatologynews.com/inde...e=98&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=6884&cHash=da03e20e36
A comparative examination of the anti-inflammatory effects of SSRI and SNRI antidepressants on LPS stimulated microglia. - ResearchGate
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as a novel class of immunosuppressants
Biology of Schizophrenia
The biology of schizophrenia
International team sheds new light on biology underlying schizophrenia | Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Biological insights from 108 schizophrenia-associated genetic loci : Nature : Nature Publishing Group
Genes, environment and schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Patients' own cells yield new insights into the biology of schizophrenia - Salk Institute - News Release
Biology of Bi Polar
Understanding the basic biology of bipolar disorder | UCLA
http://www.ccnl.emory.edu/greg/Bipol...JMG%202003.pdf
The underlying neurobiology of bipolar disorder
YaleNews | Common biology shared in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/178/41/s107.full
Mood Disorders Research Program > Psychiatry | Yale School of Medicine
Abnormalities Found in Brains of Young Bipolar Patients Who Try Suicide - MedicineNet
Making sense out of the biological matrix of bipolar disorder -- ScienceDaily
YaleNews | Common biology shared in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
Bipolar Disorder - Biology Educational Resource | University of Colorado Colorado Springs